More than nine months have passed since the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a public health emergency of international concern.
The world of work has been profoundly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to the threat to public health, the economic and social disruption threatens long-term business, livelihood, employment, and our well-being.
The government and workers and employers will play a vital role in combating the outbreak, ensuring the safety of individuals and the sustainability of businesses and jobs.
While 2020 has paved the way for transitions and changes in our work and way of life, the Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera has implemented social protection programs geared towards providing the vulnerable informal sector workers immediate relief and buffer against lost income.
The three major programs of DOLE that provide financial assistance to our formal and informal workers during this pandemic are the Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) Program, and Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) for our overseas Filipino workers.
CAMP is a cash assistance for employees for those in the formal sector or workers hired by private companies or establishments regardless of their employment status (permanent, probationary, or contractual). Employees who are displaced within enhanced community quarantine may also be included in the list of beneficiaries. However, if the workers are still given salaries by their employers even if they are not able to work during the ECQ, employees may not be considered.
Beneficiaries for the program will receive one-time cash assistance of P5,000.
Tupad is a community-based safety net program that will provide temporary employment to workers to those in the informal sector who are either underemployed, self-employed or displaced marginalized workers whose earnings are affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This may include but not limited to kasambahay, angkas drivers, Grab drivers, jeepney and other public utility vehicle drivers, carinderia owners, vendors, dishwashers, senior citizens fit to work, and independent contractors. However, individuals aged 17 below are not allowed to apply in accordance with the Anti-Child Labor Law. Workers outside the regions declared under the enhanced community quarantine category who also lost their livelihood due to the Covid-19 are also covered. Beneficiaries given financial assistance by their local government units may still avail of the Tupad #BKBK as long as the benefit will not exceed P8,000 in total. You don’t have to be a registered voter of your barangay to avail of this assistance.
The nature of work is disinfection/sanitation of homes and immediate surroundings.
Tupad beneficiaries will be provided an emergency employment assistance where they will be paid based on the prevailing minimum wage in the region where they will be employed.
Displaced, stranded, and onsite OFWs are beneficiaries of AKAP, one-time case assistance of $200 (approximately P10,000).
The DOLE has ceased to accept online applications for CAMP Bayanihan 2, Camp regular, and CAMP education since Dec. 11 since the number of target beneficiaries has already been reached. The program also covers teaching and non-teaching personnel in private educational institutions.
As of Dec. 8, a total of 1,462,350 workers from 36,355 establishments have applied for CAMP, exceeding by more than 2,000 workers the number of target beneficiaries.
Of the P4 billion CAMP allocation, P2.3B or 54 percent has been disbursed to the beneficiaries.
The DOLE regional offices will still evaluate and process CAMP applications sent before the deadline.
April 27, 2024
